Readings for Coming of Age Ceremonies,
Confirmations and Graduations
On Children
From the book The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Confirmation Blessing (Christian)
As you confirm your faith in Christ,
May the Holy Spirit give you new life,
Show you the way and be your guide,
Be ever after by your side.
In times when you may doubt or fear,
May you find Jesus always near
To cover you with hope and light,
Lead you from wrong and into right.
In Him, may you be free from sin,
Embrace the strength that is within
And may your heart be always blessed,
With inner peace and happiness.
Live Each Day To The Fullest
From the Talmud (Jewish wisdom)
Live each day to the fullest. Get the most from each hour, each day and each age of your life. Then you can look forward with confidence and back without regrets.
Be yourself – but be your best self.
Dare to be different and to follow your own star and don’t be afraid to be happy.
Enjoy what is beautiful.
Love with all your heart and soul.
Believe that those you love, love you.
Forget what you have done for your friends and remember what they have done for you.
Disregard what the world owes you and concentrate on what you owe the world.
When you are faced with a decision, make that decision as wisely as possible – then forget it. The moment of absolute certainty never arrives.
Blessed is the generation in which the old listens to the young and doubly blessed is the generation in which the young listen to the old.
Before One Reads The Torah (Jewish)
by Nicholas Gordon
Before one reads the Torah, one must be
Alight with love of G-d, as though a flame
Took refuge in the temple of a heart
Made pure by discipline and holy deeds.
If one read only thus, then one would see
The meaning of the meaning, as the art
Zealously sustains those souls who read
Vested in the glory of The Name.
All of life and death is here in this:
How much one grasps depends on who one is.
*For bar mitzvahs, read: "Resplendent found its refuge in a heart".
Philippians 4:8 (Christian)
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
From Theologian John Wesley
Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can, At all the times you can, As ever and as long as you can.
From the World of Your Dreams (Andy’s Bar Mitzvah Song)
Lyrics and music by Debbie Friedman, based on Talmud Berachot 17a
(Interfaith explanation: The Torah is the first five books of Moses, or the Hebrew Bible. Jewish scripture contains other books as well.)
This is a very nice reading if read responsively by the gathering of guests. The guest read the chorus and the Offiiciant reads the verses.
May your eyes shine with the light of Torah
And your face be radiant as the brightness of the sky.
May your lips speak words of wisdom,
And may the world you live in be the world of your dreams.
May you see your world created in your lifetime.
May you see your visions come to be.
May your hope touch every generation to come.
These are the prayers we have for you.
May your eyes shine with the light of Torah
And your face be radiant as the brightness of the sky.
May your lips speak words of wisdom,
And may the world you live in be the world of your dreams.
May you be blessed with understanding,
With wisdom and compassion in your heart.
May your tongue be filled with song.
And your lips sing out for justice.
These are the prayers we have for you.
May your eyes shine with the light of Torah
And your face be radiant as the brightness of the sky.
May your lips speak words of wisdom,
And may the world you live in be the world of your dreams.
May your eyes shine with the light of Torah
And your face be radiant as the brightness of the sky.
May your lips speak words of wisdom,
And may the world you live in be the world of your dreams.
Irish Confirmation Blessing
May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
May your heart be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright happy hours,
That stay with you all year long.
For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way -
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
An Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be always at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields and,
until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
An Irish Blessing
May God grant you always
A sunbeam to warm you
A moonbeam to charm you
A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you
Laughter to cheer you
Faithful friends near you
And whenever you pray
Heaven to hear you.
Prayer for Life
“May you be strong in Courage and Confidence - May you be Wise in choices and decisions - May you be caring of all relationships and Compassionate to those in need - May you meet life’s adventures with a clear mind and a bold heart - May your Integrity be a gift to the world, and May the Spirit of God be with you always. Amen.”
Spirit of God - Confirmation Blessing
“May you be quickened by the Spirit who fills the whole earth and lives in you! May you stand firm and tall like a mountain. May you move through the world like the wind, listening to the secrets alive in your heart and the hearts of others. May the holy Fire that burns in you become bright, become Love – a passion for justice and unity in our world. May you be life-giving water for all shaping and being shaped, flowing into the fullness of God.”
Beginnings
“Blessings on you as you take the next steps on your path. May beauty and strength walk with you. May the winds and rains anoint you. May you experience all creation as friend and may gratitude be your constant companion in the dance of life.”
Come Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, enkindle the Fire of Your Love. Transform all that is fearful into boldness of heart. Inspire Your servant with Wonder and Awe at the Mystery of Your Presence. Confirm Your friend in Compassion and Forgiveness. Whisper Discernment in the midst of confusion; be Wisdom in time of trouble; Reverence in the face of Diversity; Patience with the unfolding of life and forever anoint Your messenger with Joy. Amen”
Confirmation Blessing
" May your life be filled with His peace, your soul with His strength and your heart with His love...on your Confirmation Day and always."
Graduation Blessing
(May also be used for consecration or beginning of education)
Hear, O children, the instruction of a parent,
And give attention that you may gain understanding,
For I give you sound teaching;
Do not abandon my instruction.
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
I have directed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.
- Proverbs 4: 1-13
Quotes
"Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time."
Rabbinic Saying
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein
"I find television very educational. Every time someone switches it on, I go into another room and read a good book."
Groucho Marx (note: there are many variations of this quote)
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
Albert Einstein
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysterious structure of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality."
Albert Einstein
"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge."
Benjamin Disraeli
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6
"When you teach your son, you teach your son's son." The Talmud
"If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders." ~ Abigail Van Buren
St. Theresa's Prayer
Theresa of Calcutta
May today there be peace within.
May you trust in God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you..
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
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